Inventors:
Isaac Avitan - Sioux City IA
Robert C. Weihe - Sioux City IA
Assignee:
Schaeff, Incorporated - Sioux City IA
International Classification:
B60K 102
B60L 1118
Abstract:
A drive train assembly for motorized vehicles, for example lift trucks. The rotational movement of the output shaft of a motor, for example an electrical motor, is transmitted to a drive wheel by a single drive shaft having at one end a gear interface assembly consisting of a gear on the end of the output shaft and a gear on an end of the drive shaft, and at the other end of the drive shaft by a second gear interface assembly consisting of a gear on the drive shaft and a gear fixedly mounted on the inside of the rim of the drive wheel. The drive train assembly allows for strong, reliable transfer of rotational torque to the drive wheel in a compact, non-complex arrangement with a minimum number of drive parts, bearings and gears. The drive wheel is independently rotatably supported on a spindle mounted to the chassis of the vehicle and bears a majority of the external load and stresses, relieving the drive train assembly of a substantial amount of such load and stresses. The assembly contributes to other important lift truck design considerations, such as mast placement, counterbalance requirements, and right angle stack.